Term 1 is a busy time in the Waikerie High School calendar. It has been extremely pleasing to see how our staff and students have quickly but efficiently begun the 2015 school year. Two major events have been held in the first two weeks. Congratulations to Phil Valentine, his faculty and staff helpers for the very successful Splash Heats and Splash Carnival held last week. A number of parents attended, and students enjoyed themselves while still maintaining high levels of competitiveness. All students are to be congratulated for their sportsmanship and team work. Sixteen years since their last success, Ritchie House, were the winners on the day.

“Community” is an important focus for us this year and the place of our school in the Waikerie and wider community. Our planning will have an emphasis on how our students present themselves, interact, connect with, and support our community through their learning to become successful citizens of the future. We look forward to your support through discussions on how we can develop this focus further. Throughout the year we

welcome and encourage our parents, caregivers and extended family to get involved with your school.

FEBRUARY Mon 16

th Inter-school Swim Carnival

Wed 18th

Adelaide Triathlon Wed 25

th Adelaide Swimming

MARCH Mon 9

th Adelaide Cup Public Holiday

Fri 13th

Sports Day

APRIL Wed 1

st Interschool Athletics

Fri 3rd

Good Friday Mon 6

th Easter Monday

Wed 8th

Adelaide Athletics

Fri 10th

Last Day Term 1

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

24 Blake Rd, Waikerie Principal: Rob McLaren Ph:8541 2533 – Fax 8541 3408

Website: www.waikeriehs.sa.edu.au – Email: dl.0800_info@schools.sa.edu.au Date 13/02/2015 Volume:317

CALENDAR We will be looking to plan events that facilitate your involvement more in your child’s learning.

I warmly invite you to attend our Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held on Thursday 19th February at 7:30pm in our Resource Centre. At this meeting we elect our Governing Council members, along with reporting on the achievements of Waikerie High School in 2014. Immediately following the AGM, a short Governing Council meeting will be held where office bearers and Governing Council Committee Chairpersons will be elected. I look forward to meeting you all at the AGM and urge you to consider nominating for Governing Council.

Staff and students are planning and preparing for Sports Day on the 13th of March and the Rotary Food Fair on March 14th. Parents and family members are very welcome to attend and if possible support us in making these very successful events.

In walking around the school, seeing students at work you can see in many of their faces the desire to be successful. However success is not always achieved in short periods of time, it needs continuous effort over an extended period. It is not always achieved alone but more often in a partnership with teachers, parents and students working and communicating together. A point I made earlier in the year to all our students at our first assembly about achieving success is that "this effort must start now". I will be looking for this in each and every student.

Rob McLaren Principal

UNIFORM SHOP

The Uniform Shop is now stocking all sizes of black, microfibre, stretch sports short. They are selling for $22.00 a pair. The Polo Shirts have arrived if you need to purchase any for your child. Uniform Shop is open Tuesdays 3:00-3:45pm and Thursdays 8:30-9:30am.

RIVERLAND VOCATIONAL AWARDS

Waikerie High School was proudly represented at the Riverland Vocational Awards on Friday, February 6th at the Berri Hotel. Jack Kay (graduate 2013) was awarded the South Australian VET Student of the Year in 2014. He addressed the audience, sharing his amazing opportunities and experiences of his past 12 months since

winning the Riverland VET Student of the Year award. Sharna Linke, Maddie Ziegler and Jo Platten, all graduates from 2014, were finalist in their specific categories. Maddie was awarded the VET Student of the Year and Sharna, runner up. Jo was runner up in her category for Australian School Based Trainee of the Year. Congratulations to all of the girls on their awards, and good luck to Maddie, who now has the opportunity to go on and represent the Riverland at State level.

The Rotary Vocational Awards are open to all students who study through the VET pathway or complete an Australian School

Based Apprenticeship/Traineeship whilst completing Year 11 or 12. I encourage more of our students to nominate (at the end of the

year) as Waikerie High School has a great reputation for producing winners and runners up on the night!

Lauren Oswald VET Coordinator

MERIT AWARD CEREMONY 2015

On Tuesday 10th February, I had the privilege of attending the 2015 Merit Award Ceremony at Government House to witness Jessica Dearman receive her Merit award for

Mathematical Applications. This was the culmination of 13 years of dedicated study beginning, as her father told me, with her Budgie assignment in primary school where he made her start it all over again. He was not happy with her first attempt!! She continued to excel, being the only person I am aware of, in my 22 years here at the high school, to get A’s in every subject, every year, for the five years she was a high school student. Jessica is an extremely hard working, conscientious and unassuming person who would produce work of the highest standard. It was a wonderful morning witnessing hundreds of other smiling students, ecstatic parents and very proud teachers / principals.

There were two others with Waikerie High School histories that also achieved Merit Awards. Emily Grace Nicholson Gartley achieved a merit for English Communications but is currently in Africa doing volunteer work. Emily Grace had a very full year which included participation in the National Youth Science

Forum held in Canberra and was then selected to take part in the International Youth Science Forum in Canada. She did this while ensuring she kept up with her studies and maintained an ‘A’ average.

Amy Borg was a student of Waikerie High School who went back to do her studies so that she could give her children ‘a better life’ and will go on to pursue a career as a Special Education Teacher. She achieved a score of 92.

On a closing note, one of the student speakers said something profound that stuck with me. He said ‘ Don’t be afraid to fail, but be afraid not to try’. It is all too easy to coast through school and life

but if you are prepared to challenge yourself, you never know where it will take you, therefore not missing out on some magnificent opportunities.

Paul Tripodi Mathematics / Science Coordinator

Science News

1. The Conocophillips Science Experience 2014/2015

Last year, Ashleigh Johnston and Chelsea Webber took part in the Conocophillips Science Experience. They stayed at Flinders University

campus and did a variety of amazing activities which introduced them to the Science offering at Flinders and also to university life. They worked on team challenges, went to lectures and worked with university students collecting data for their ongoing projects.

The girls spoke at Rotary on Wednesday evening where they told those present about their experiences. They spoke confident and with great enthusiasm which impressed all Rotarians. They thanked Rotary for giving them this opportunity and were going to promote the Science Experience to other students.

Congratulations to both Ashleigh and Chelsea for taking the opportunity to go and I hope it has helped them with their future directions.

Paul Tripodi Mathematics and Science Coordinator

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES IN SCIENCE AND ONLINE RESOURCES

1. Rotary Murray Darling School of Freshwater Research

This is designed for Year 11 students and is a week long camp (8th – 13th April) being held at Albury Wodonga.

It gives students the opportunity to work alongside some of Australia’s leading scientists and to sample University life. Students will have the opportunity to work in laboratories, experience practical fieldwork, along the River Murray and its floodplain, and provide direct involvement with scientists and lecturers.

The cost would usually be $450 but as this is sponsored by Rotary the cost is NIL for the lucky student(s).

There are only 50 positions on offer so if you are interested, please see me ASAP or you can visit www.mdfrc.org.au/students/programs/rotary.

2. Oliphant Science Awards

Have you got a child that is really keen to do some extracurricular activities in Science? Do they have a keen interest or passion to push their understanding further.

If so then the Oliphant Science Awards could be the answer. This is the largest Science competition in SA and has a wide range of categories:

Computer programming and robotics

Crystal Investigation

Games

Models and Inventions

Multimedia

Photography

Posters

Science writing

Scientific Inquiry

Register their interest with their science teacher and we will endeavour to get them on their way.

Student registrations close 19th June and judging starts early August.

3. Online Science

If you are interested in Science then there are many amazing sites that provide interesting up to date science articles or provide scientific information.

I. Science is a 100% free electronic science magazine for anyone interested in the scientific world. Science comes alive with exciting online content and resources about cutting edge research. This is available either from the iPad app store or on the web from sciences.adelaide.edu.au

II. One Minute astronomer is a website for hands-on and armchair stargazers who wish to cultivate their passion for the stars. All you have to do is subscribe and monthly updates about special things happing in the night sky will be highlighted. Some excellent apps to help you navigate the stars are Sky view and sky guide - See more at: http://oneminuteastronomer.com

III. IFLScience – Science Website I don’t usually promote sites with foul language but the ‘I F$%#@n Love Science’ (yes it is the “F” word) is an amazing site with excellent information on current Science news and research as well as answering many questions. It is full of clips and explanations for all readers. I highly recommend this site for anyone interested in Science and for those who aren’t I am sure it will spark an interest.

IV. Kahn Academy is an amazing site that will help your children to understand concepts that you may not know or be able to explain yourself. If your child is having difficulty then this is the site as it gives detailed instructions for a variety of topics and subjects. It not only covers everything in Mathematics and Science but also has topics in the Arts and Humanities. The site can be accessed on line at https://www.khanacademy.org/ or you can download the app. A brilliant

resource to help your children further understand the work they are trying to learn.

Paul Tripodi Maths / Science Coordinator

SCHOOL SPORT EXPECTATIONS

Waikerie High School will provide its strongest possible team to compete in: Riverland swimming, athletics and cross country; Adelaide swimming and athletics.

Students who have been selected based on school competitions are expected to represent their school.

Those students who compete in school, interschool and Adelaide competitions (if selected) will be given first priority when knock out sport teams are selected later on in the year. This is only fair seeing those students have made a commitment towards the school and their fellow squad members.

If a nominated student does not represent their school they severely limit their chances of competing in knock out sport teams. We do not intend to reward students with knockout sports if they have essentially ‘let down’ their school and fellow team mates.

Furthermore, behaviour, attendance, effort in class and uniform are areas that teachers will consider when selecting knockout teams.

To some, this may seem like a tough approach. These expectations were introduced last year and are working. There were improved performances in 2014 in all major competitions and squad numbers were greater compared to previous years.

I encourage parents to support the expectations. Although Waikerie High School has a good reputation for its sporting endeavours, I feel there is much improvement needed. It all starts with sending our best possible team to all major competitions.

Phil Valentine HPE & Sports Coordinator

RITCHIE’S FIRST IN 16 YEARS!

The Ritchie house has claimed its first AW Martin Shield for swimming since 1999. Student numbers for the day were good and

the novelty events in particular were popular.

Ritchie were also the leading team in terms of student volunteers who earnt extra points for their house. The Big Splash was the lunchtime highlight with some very well planned sketches.

Although no records were broken on the day the standard of swimming was very good with many personal best times achieved. This is an exciting prospect leading into the Riverland Schools Swimming Championships to be held at Renmark on Monday evening the 16th of February. Furthermore, we hope to have a strong team when we contest the D grade swimming championships in Adelaide on Wednesday the 25th of February. We will endeavour to take our best team to these carnivals so it would be expected that all nominated students will compete.

A big thank you to the House Captains and Vice Captains who displayed great organisation and encouraged their teams make it a memorable day. Thank you to the swimming pool and swimming club for the facilities and equipment, Marion Maywald and her helpers for providing a canteen, parents and spectators for supporting the day and volunteering for duties, the Waikerie High staff, and of course the students for their participation and setting up the day.

We look forward to your support on Monday night (16/2) from 6:30pm when we take on the other Riverland schools at Renmark.

TRIATHLON On Wednesday the 18th February 32 students will travel to West Lakes to compete in the SA State Secondary School’s triathlon championships. Eight students will compete in the individual event and all 32 in the team’s event. This is by far the biggest team we have taken to the championships and I am very pleased to see students taking the opportunity to get involved.

ATHLETICS All Year 8 -10 PE classes will begin athletics as part of their curriculum starting Week 3. We intend to involve classes in as many practical lessons as possible leading up to our sports day on Friday Week 7 (13th March). We will start morning and lunchtime trainings shortly in preparation for interschool and Adelaide competitions.

All students are expected to have a change of clothes and a hat when they are outside during PE lessons this term.

Phil Valentine HPE & Sports Coordinator

2015 WAIKERIE HIGH SCHOOL SPLASH CARNIVAL RESULTS

Final Points 1st Ritchie 636.0 2nd Cadell 580.0 3rd King 571.5 4th Randell 445.5

Records Broken

No records Broken

Individual Medal Winners

EVENT WINNER HOUSE

U/14 Male Aden Hocking King

U/14 Male Runner-up

Jack Burgemeister Cadell

U/14 Female Tamika Johnson King

U/14 Female Runner-up

Alex Trandafil Ritchie

U/15 Male Asher Whitehead Randell

U/15 Male Runner-up

James Smith Cadell

U/15 Female Rachel Fillmore King

U/15 Female Runner-up

Laney West Ritchie

U/16 Male Joseph Whitehead Randel

U/16 Male Runner-up

Taran Brock King

U/16 Female Kira Bannister Randell

U/16 Female Runner-up

Georgie Myer Cadell

U/20 Male Bradyn Rigby Ritchie

U/20 Male Chris Tyler Cadell

U/20 Male Runner-up

Jayden Shaw Ritchie

U/20 Female Lana Woollatt Ritchie

U/20 Female Runner-up

Tegan Griffiths Cadell

NEW ZEALAND BOUND:

Congratulation to Year 11 student Jessie Dolphin who has been selected by the Waikerie Rotary Club as the student participating in an exchange to New Zealand in 2015.

Jessie’s six month adventure commences on Saturday March 28th, 2015, when Xanthe her New Zealand matched exchange “sister” flies into Adelaide.

There are also Long Term Youth Exchange programs available (12 months). Students’ aged 14 years and over are eligible to apply for both Long term and Short term exchange. If anyone is interested in participating in a Rotary New Zealand (RNZSE) or in a Long Term Exchange

more information can be found on www.rotarynews.info

or by contacting: The Secretary Rotary Club of Waikerie, PO Box 244, Waikerie SA 53

CANTEEN NEWS

Thank you for assisting. If you are unable to attend please phone Marion on 8541 3097 or 0417 897 295. Times for arrival are 10:45am for recess and 12:50pm for lunch. You are not required to stay between recess and lunch. Approximate finish time is 2:15pm. Attached is a revised roster. As you can see the canteen still needs a lot of volunteers. Please consider volunteering and fill out the attached form. If volunteering is not possible, please consider a donation of products (list of required items is attached)

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

FOOTBALL

Earn up to $170 per game, tax free Riverland Football League Umpires are looking for you to join the umpire panel in any of the three disciplines of FIELD, BOUNDARY or GOAL UMPIRING. - For any age or gender - no football back ground required - free uniform - meet new people Training nights Wednesday 6.00pm at Berri Oval (come along to have a look) Contact Jeff Hayes Phone- 0439081208

WAIKERIE HIGH SCHOOL - TERM 1 2015 CANTEEN ROSTER

Thank you for assisting - if unable to attend please phone MARION

Marion on 85 413097 or 041 789 7295

TIMES FOR ARRIVAL: 10.45am for recess & 12.50 for lunch.

You are not required to stay between recess & lunch. Approx finish time - 2.15pm

FEB 16th V. CRAWFORD K. SCOTT - Lunch 17th V. SCHMIDT R. EBERT 18th HELP HELP 19th S. HACKETT 20th W. BELL D. REDINGTON

23rd J. HANSEN S. PERRY 24th S. SMITH - lunch D. REDINGTON 25th J. STRAUSS J. WOOLLATT 26th K. FOWLER 27th M. FROST W. BELL

MARCH 2nd HELP K. SCOTT - Lunch 3rd B. KLEEMANN T. TWIGDEN -Lunch 4th L. MORTIMER D. REDINGTON 5th HELP 6th HELP HELP 9th ADELAIDE CUP HOLIDAY

10th HELP HELP 11th HELP D. REDINGTON 12th HELP 13th SPORTS DAY

16th HELP HELP 17th HELP HELP 18th HELP D. REDINGTON 19th K. FOWLER 20th M. FROST HELP

23rd J. WOOLLATT J. STRAUSS 24th HELP R. EBERT 25th S. BURGEMEISTER L. MORTIMER 26th HELP

27th HELP D. REDINGTON

30th HELP D. REDINGTON 31st B. KLEEMANN K. SCOTT - Lunch

APRIL 1st INTERSCHOOL SPORTS DAY

2nd K. FOWLER 3rd GOOD FRIDAY

6th EASTER MONDAY

7th HELP T. TWIGDEN -Lunch 8th S. BURGEMEISTER D. REDINGTON 9th HELP 10th HELP M. FROST

VOLUNTARY AND CANTEEN HELPERS IN THE SCHOOL We appreciate and invite parent participation in the school and if you have any skills you feel you could share with our students we would be very happy to hear from you.

The Canteen cannot be operated at a satisfactory profit level without the voluntary help of parents. If you can assist, please complete the notice attached. Canteen helper’s hours are normally from 10:45am until 11:15am and then from 12:45pm until 2:00pm.

To keep the prices down on our meals we are looking for donations from families. If you are unable to volunteer your time due to other commitments there are other ways you can help. Either by monetary donations or providing any items listed below to help produce the nutritious meals for sale in the Canteen.

Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Capsicums, Lettuces, Onions, Avocadoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Potatoes, Carrots, Corn Kernels (frozen or tinned), Tins of Crushed Tomatoes, Frozen Peas, Tins of Pineapple Pieces, Milo, Sugar, Grated Cheese, BBQ Sauce, Jars of Tomato Pasta Sauce, Tomato Sauce, Dried Apricots ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CANTEEN HELPERS – Marion Maywald (Canteen Manager - Telephone: 85413097) I am prepared to be rostered in the Canteen YES NO I would prefer to work: Once/month Twice/term Once/term I am available ONLY on: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday I am not able to assist as a helper but would like to make a donation of $___________ Helpers Name:______________________________ Phone: _______________________ Work Phone: _______________________ Mobile Phone: _______________________